Visitor Information

Ottawa lies in northeast North America, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, while the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal meander north to south through the city. Directly across the Ottawa River are the City of Gatineau and the picturesque Outaouais region in the Province of Quebec.

Ottawa, Canada is a picturesque city with beautiful waterways, historic architecture, and an abundance of parklands and open spaces. Check out the links below to see some still and moving images of Ottawa.

Ottawa is Canada’s fourth largest city with over 877,300 residents. The size of the Ottawa region is 4,662 square kilometres (1,800 square miles), with over 90% of its area being in a country setting. While it is large enough to support the finest amenities, such as world-class entertainment venues and shopping districts, Ottawa retains the warmth and charm of a quaint European city.

Ottawa’s four seasons provide an exhilarating canvas of colour, beauty, and recreational activity. Spring, summer, fall and winter are welcomed, and the changing seasons are an integral part of living in our city. Both spring and fall are cool, and residents usually wear a sweater or light jacket.

Ottawa is a “Bright City”. It is one of the world’s safest and most beautiful communities in which to live, work, learn, play, and raise a family. The city prides itself on its quality of life. It is home to a wide range of age groups from families with children to adult professionals to university students and senior citizens. As a G7 capital city, Ottawa is Canada’s showcase city to the world. It is endowed with a number of national museums and performing arts institutions, as well as a rich local cultural and heritage fabric. The city is graced with a civic design that places high priority on green spaces, parklands and trails, making Ottawa a bright and beautiful landscape for all to enjoy.